Although I never progressed past Cub Scouts, I understood early on that being prepared was important. Professional athletes not only have pre-season preparation, but most practice nearly every day before each game. Actors spend many hours preparing for a part before the first production, even if it's filmed in one take. Zig Ziglar, arguably the best motivational speaker in the world spends two hours in preparation for each hour he speaks even if the speech is the same one he gave 50 or 60 times before. Everywhere you look, success is preceded by preparation.
I've continually developed habits of preparation throughout my life for mundane as well as crucial things. I place my keys in the same spot at night in preparation of needing them the next day. I gas up my car well before it's near empty in preparation of needing to be some distance away for an unknown emergency or tight timeframe. I plan my day or week before it actually starts (Outlook has helped make the transition from paper planners). I budget money before spending any so that it covers the priorities required. Preparation is more than just planning for future events.
Preparation for planned events is one aspect, but preparation for unplanned events is where you can truly make a difference in your life. When I rode a motorcycle I believed the other motorists didn't see me and if they did were trying to hit me. That mind set not only made me a defensive driver (no accidents while driving for over 38 years), but taught me to be prepared for people to pull out in front of me or into my lane, even when they don't. When someone promises to do something, I begin to mentally prepare for what to do if they don't fulfill their promise. Sometimes this preparation is called having a PLAN B (to use when plan A doesn't work out).
In my job I work on promotions 60 days out, and marketing plans up to 7 times that long. This focus on the future allows me to succeed at my job, but I have to be sure I also stay aware of what is happening today and what happened yesterday that may affect the future I'm preparing for. In the same way, preparation for things that might happen or preparation for things you want to make happen has to stay in touch with what is currently happening. WHAT IF ... is followed by mental scenarios for me that takes the events of today and merges them with PLAN A and PLAN B for future use so I'm rarely surprised. In other words I try to stay prepared for all eventualities. I read a lot. I hang out with young people to stay up with generational views. I hang out with my elders for the same reason. Computers and especially the Internet has allowed research to be faster and more complete than anytime in history.
For truly long term preparation, everyone must consider eternity. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, John 3:16, and John 14:6 (among others) that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternity with God, despite all the other versions you may have heard. Once you accept him as your savior he sends people to disciple you and explain a different level of preparation for eternity that can be summed up in learning to take the focus off of self, and move it to him and others. Check out Luke chapter 6, Matthew chapter 5, and James chapter 1 for some insight on eternal preparation here on earth. Don't get this preparation wrong, or none of the other issues really matter.
Last month I wrote in this blog about setting goals. Preparation precedes the execution of the plan in nearly every case. I attended school before I got a job. I completed higher educational degrees before I got a promotion. Preparation is simply getting ready for what is next, even if you don't know what is next. I observe people getting ready for retirement, even though they are not sure how long they will live beyond the start of "retirement". I'm ready even though I don't plan to ever retire. What am I ready for, you ask? The next goal,the next step, the next plan. As it turns out, I find I've been preparing for things without even realizing it until it happens. So whatever is next, I'm prepared. Research has begun, now I'm just waiting on God for the next directional way to utilize the preparation.
